Eleanor Y. McClay

ELEANOR Y. McCLAY August 25, 1910- August 20, 2008. I am not a big frog in a little pool, Nor even a little frog in a big pool, Merely a pebble in a wee pond. Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end. William Shakespeare, Sonnet 60. (Quoted at the beginning of her memoir, Pebble in the Pond, co. 2001, by Eleanor Y. Wolfe McClay). Adored mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, choir director, teacher, writer, card shark, and friend passed away after a short illness just five days before her 98th birthday. Born August 25, 1910 in Buffalo, New York, Ellie received her BA in music at Fredonia State College and taught at Barker, Lyndonville, and Wilson, N.Y. Central Schools. She spent the last 17 years in The Woodlands, Texas near her daughter, Raelle Frost and son-in-law, Dr. James Frost, Jr. and near her grandson James Frost, III, his wife Susie Adams and her great grandchildren, Karen and Jimmy Frost. She was an active member of the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands where she helped in the church's library until she lost her eyesight. Still the avid reader, she continued to "read" books on tape until the end of her life. During her years in The Woodlands, she helped create and directed the choir group, The Woodlands Sweethearts, who performed in area nursing homes and in the Conroe Talent Show. In her nineties when she led the choir, she said she felt like "angels" raised her arms when she was directing the choir. Quick witted and funny until the very end, Eleanor taught us all "how to die young at a very old age". Eleanor is preceded in death by her husbands, Raymond Wolfe, Donald Sherwood, and Arthur McClay. She is also survived by her son, Dr. David Wolfe in Albany, N.Y., and her grandchildren, Dr. Jami Frost, Cindy Valyou, Ken Wolfe, Kristin Acosta, and Paul Wolfe. Great-grandchildren include Heather, Amy and Samantha Valyou, Brittany, Tyler and Madison Wolfe, Katelyn, Ryan and Karin Acosta, and Trevor and Kelli O'Brien. She also leaves behind friends and relatives from coast to coast as well as in Canada. A memorial service will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, August 23, 2008 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in the Woodlands. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Lord of Life.